3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Former child star, 42, looks unrecognisable as she makes her TV return 30 years after iconic movie and backstage scandal
ONCE known for movies like Hocus Pocus and Patriot Games, this former child star is now all grown up and making her big comeback.
During her film career in the 90s, the actress, now 42, was involved in a backstage scandal and decided to take a step back from the spotlight.
GettyDo you recognise this former child star?[/caption]
AlamyThe actress in question is Thora Birch, who is best known for Hocus Pocus in 1993[/caption]
It’s been revealed that Thora Birch is now heading back to TV to star in the second series of gothic writer Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches.
Fans will remember the actress from her roles as a child star.
During her heyday in the 90s, Thora was an in-demand child actress.
In fact, she was even up for the role of child vampire Claudia in director Neil Jordan’s 1994 film Interview with the Vampire alongside Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.
“I took a number of meetings with the director,” Thora told PEOPLE.
However, at just 12-years-old, the actress wasn’t deemed ready to play the controversial role of an adult woman trapped in the body of a little girl.
Speaking about this, Thora said: “At the time, I was still quite innocent in a lot of ways.
“I grew up fast being a child actor.
“But there were still parts of that character and things that were required of her that I still felt were too adult, or I just didn’t connect up with it.
“I had no frame of personal reference for those deeper, more complex emotions that that character had to embody.
“So, for me, it was just like, ‘This is a little icky.’ But I did love it. I’m a huge fan of the movie and the show as well.”
AlamyThora also starred in the 1998 film American Beauty[/caption]
Backstage scandal
In the noughties, Thora suddenly disappeared from the spotlight – with some blaming her pushy dad Jack’s on-set behaviour.
A crew member on the 2008 film Winter of Frozen Dreams said her father insisted on watching a sex scene between his daughter and actor Dean Winters.
The insider told Page Six: “It was so wrong. The director is saying, ‘Harder! Faster!’ and the father is giving Winters the thumbs up.”
Then, in 2010, it was also reported that Thora was fired from an Off Broadway production of Dracula after her father allegedly threatened another actor.
The alleged incident reportedly occurred during a rehearsal when the actor was directed to rub the actress’ back.
Jack denied the altercation.
GettyThe actress is now 42 and is making her big comeback to TV[/caption]
Return to TV
Now Thora is making her big television comeback in Mayfair Witches.
Fans will see her in season 2 playing Gifford Mayfair, a distant cousin of the show’s head witch in charge, Rowan (Alexandra Daddario).
Speaking about the role she said: “She’s part of the Mayfair empire and she’s a very wealthy, prominent figure in the world.
“But if she had a quarter of the powers Rowan has, I think she would be over the moon.”
“She has this sense of an impending doom and she doesn’t know if it’s for her or her family or something bigger, but she knows something’s coming.”
AlamyThe actress shot to fame as a child star in Harrison’s Ford’s Patriot Games in 1991[/caption]
AlamyThe actress is best known for her role of Dani in Hocus Pocus[/caption]
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Baby Elsa cops reveal Boots shopping bag freezing newborn was found in with £20K to find parents who dumped 3 siblings
COPS have revealed the Boots shopping bag Baby Elsa was found dumped in – as they offer a £20,000 appeal for information.
The freezing newborn was found by a member of the public one year ago today, at 9.13pm in East London.
PAThe Boots shopping bag Baby Elsa was dumped in on January 18 last year[/caption]
PAElsa’s sibling, Baby Harry, was found abandoned in a park area near Balaam Street in Plaistow, east London, on September 17, 2017[/caption]
PAHis sister Baby Roman, was found discovered in a park in Newham, east London, on January 31, 2019[/caption]
She was wrapped in a towel and left near the junction of Greenway and High Street South.
Police discovered the infant was thankfully uninjured and she was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Staff named the newborn Elsa after the Frozen character, because the little one had been so cold when she arrived.
She has since been raised in foster care and Family Court heard last month she was “doing very well”.
The Met’s Child Abuse Investigation Team later uncovered Elsa was actually related to two other babies who had been found in similar ways.
Her sibling Baby Harry was abandoned shortly after being born in September 2017 and was wrapped in a blanket.
Baby Roman was also discovered in a towel, placed inside a Sainsbury’s shopping bag, in February 2019.
Harry and Roman have since been adopted, which is also the plan for Elsa, said Newham Children’s Services.
The trio, who are all safe and well, are also full siblings, according to DNA tests.
However, while the police investigation is active, Elsa’s birth can’t be registered, which is preventing the tot from being adopted.
Family Court officials have stated they are “very concerned” and wish to see the issue resolved as soon as possible.
Senior judge in East London Family Court, Carol Atkinson, said last month Elsa is living in an “ongoing state of uncertainty”, as reported by the BBC.
Crimestoppers have now offered a £20,000 reward for information regarding the three newborns.
Detectives have trawled through more than 450 hours of CCTV throughout their investigations.
Due to the children, police also have a full DNA profile of the mother.
They shared one theory in which the parents have been living in Plaistow or East Ham since 2019.
Detective Inspector Jamie Humm said: “We have serious concerns for the well-being of the parents, especially the mother and are continuing to work closely with Newham Council and appeal for the public’s help for information.
“I believe that someone in the area will have been aware of the mother’s pregnancies and that within the community there may be have been concerns for this mother’s welfare.
“I share these concerns with you so if you have any information, no matter how small it may seem, please contact us.
“Thanks to the DNA work of forensic colleagues, police will be able to eliminate any unconnected person quickly and easily, as such I would ask you to contact police with confidence.”
The DI also appealed to staff working in health care, education or charity to think about whether they may have met the mother without realising it at the time.
Information can be given to Crimestoppers anonymously., 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You can go via their website Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling their UK-based Contact Centre on 0800 555 111.
Anyone with information is also asked to call police on 101 or post @MetCC ref Operation Wolcott.
LNPBaby Elsa was found dumped in -4C weather by a dog walker[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationThe park in which Baby Harry, who has since been adopted, was found[/caption]
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on BBC star leaves show after ‘trying to recruit colleague to join brainwashing CULT that takes £1,000s from victims’
FILE – A logo of the BBC marks the BBC Headquarters in London, Britain, July 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)AP
A BBC star is accused of attempting to recruit members to an organisation alleged to be a “messianic cult”.
Former Radio Derby presenter Pam Sidhu departed her regular evening slot in November 2023 before the broadcaster launched an investigation into her ties to controversial group EDUCO.
instagramPam Sidhu departed her regular BBC Radio Derby slot in November 2023[/caption]
EDUCO founder Dr Tony Quinn
Founded by Irish-born self-help guru and businessman Dr Tony Quinn in the 1990s, the pseudo-religion has previously been accused of coercive control and brainwashing.
It reportedly charges thousands of pounds for mindfulness-style seminars around the world, promising to reprogramme the mind like a computer.
Attendees have previously claimed they were encouraged to remortgage their homes to afford the extortionate fees and that it targeted vulnerable people.
Millionaire Dr Quinn previously said he could cure cancer through positive thinking, with some former members saying they believed he was Jesus Christ.
Introductory events have reportedly been held in London as recently as 2020.
In 2010, Dr Quinn was sued in the Irish High Court for alleged sexual assault, battery and fraudulent misrepresentation – claims he denied.
ALLEGATIONS
Referring to Sidhu, a source close to the group told The Sun: “I’ve been trying to raise concerns about her for the last two years.
“Her and her husband were the Manchester recruiting team for EDUCO.”
The source said he initially contacted multiple people at the BBC but was continually “fobbed off”.
Sidhu, who worked on a freelance basis, made a one-off return to the broadcaster’s local network when she covered for another presenter in August this year on BBC Radio Nottingham.
The source said: “That’s when I escalated the complaint to the BBC and got a meeting with bosses.”
The broadcaster carried out due diligence into her activity with EDUCO and it’s understood did not see any issue.
The Sun has seen evidence the BBC’s safeguarding department was alerted but the concern was eventually downgraded to its investigations team, before a meeting with the whistleblower was held in September last year.
The BBC then told them via email that the case had been closed.
And while we understand the broadcaster has no current plans to work with Sidhu, it has not ruled out doing so in the future.
There is no evidence she left her Radio Derby show due to the allegations.
‘VICTIM’
A former colleague of Sidhu’s – not from the BBC – has told the Sun she was recruited to EDUCO by the presenter after they met in 2018.
She described herself as “very vulnerable” at the time and over several months was persuaded to attend a £4,000 seminar in the Bahamas in February 2019 where she met Dr Quinn himself.
She said he was described as “the light of the world” and it was made clear “the more people that join, the more… people will awake”.
“Now, when I think about it, after getting treatment, it’s all delusional stuff,” she said.
Referring to Sidhu, the victim said: “She made me talk to my brothers and some of my friends to join. She wanted me to become a recruiter.”
She went on to say: “Every time they had a meeting, they would never call it EDUCO. They were very careful not to leave a trace.
“They specifically told us to not google Tony Quinn.”
She continued: “I was very delusional. I felt like he had something to offer to the world and he was special, because he was transferring this sort of energy onto other people.”
The victim said the group used Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) techniques and hypnotism, and she was encouraged to do the next level seminar, costing £20,000.
She would often attend meetings in London on Sidhu’s behalf, she claimed.
Describing the BBC presenter, she said: “She thinks that she’s very special, and she has this special power, and her intuition is on point.”
But they have not spoken since 2022.
The victim was involved with the group for around two years, before she suffered a mental breakdown.
By that point, she had spent thousands on products from the group, usually on credit cards as well as loans from her brother, and is currently homeless.
“That experience had a profound impact on my life,” she explained.
She has since been diagnosed with schizoaffective and bipolar disorder.
She claimed EDUCO encouraged her to stop taking antidepressants and prevented her seeing a psychiatrist.
Every time they had a meeting, they would never call it EDUCO. They were very careful not to leave a trace.They specifically told us to not google Tony Quinn
EDUCO victim
Sidhu’s spouse, Ranjeev Singh Sidhu, has EDUCO listed in the education section of his LinkedIn profile.
In 2009, a testimony attributed to him was left on the now-archived EDUCO Success website.
It said: “It would be truly amazing if one day every school child were taught the basics of EDUCO – it would give them the edge in their lives.”
Pam Sidhu’s X account describes her as a “mindfulness teacher” and in June 2020 she commented on a video posted on the EducoWorld Facebook page, saying: “Very inspirational.”
On November 4 2023 she posted on X announcing she would no longer be hosting the Radio Derby evening show.
She said: “It’s a wrap!! After 2 years of covering the evening show at @bbcderby last night was my final evening show!
“From next week there’s a new schedule and the evening show will now be regional.
“It’s been a real honour and privilege to highlight local talent and give local people a voice.”
She is currently a presenter on Sabras Radio.
The Sun has approached Pam Sidhu and Ranjeev Singh Sidhu for comment.
The BBC did not wish to comment.
Cult expert Richard Turner who runs To Think Again, a therapy service for victims, has raised concerns about EDUCO.
He said: “If you search for EDUCO online the term ‘cult’ comes up repeatedly and therefore there is a huge red flag waving in the sky.
“There seems to be claims that Tony Quin is a God-like character (A common feature of a controlling group) who members worship and numerous comments referencing financial exploitation, the group causing mental suffering, making false claims and promises and fraudulent activity.
“If I knew somebody who was involved with Educo I would be seriously concerned for their wellbeing.”
I was trapped in a cult & forced to give all my money to leaders
A VICTIM of another cult spoke to The Sun about his experiences with the Hope City Church.
Richard Turner was a victim of Hope City Church – a cult that “brain-washed” members to hand over all their money .
He was working for a modern slavery support charity at the time that had links to the ominous Hope City Church group and was accidentally drawn in.
Richard said he was in a vulnerable place and easily latched onto the groups teachings.
The cult used the technique “love bombing” where Richard was told how pleased they were he had joined them.
However without such “love” a members self-esteem is lowered without it, leading them to feel worthless without it.
Richard even began to starve himself for weeks becoming ill in a confused bid to feel closer to God, before being humiliated by the leaders for being “too obsessive”, despite that being their teachings.
At one stage he was dating a long-term member who had been advised to cut off her own mum – and the couple were even assigned ‘accountability partners’ who reported back everything they did whilst together.
They weren’t allowed to ever kiss and were forbidden from ever sleeping in the same building.
Some members were tricked into giving so much money they couldn’t afford to pay for food.
One handed over £15,000.
It was Richard’s parents who eventually saved him – he moved home and stayed there for weeks.
Despite having a short relapse, attending more sessions, he was eventually shunned by the group after raising concerns and was able to finally escape.
Do you know more? Email ryan.merrifield@thesun.co.uk
instagramThe BBC launched a probe into Sidhu’s ties to EDUCO[/caption]
The BBC says Sidhu is not currently scheduled for any further workinstagram
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Rare ‘planet parade’ to be visible TONIGHT as six planets align in the sky – exact time for the best view
A RARE ‘planet parade’ where Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn and Venus will align in the night sky will be visible tonight.
The six planets will move into a large arc that just about fits into your eye’s field of view.
The SunThe planets align every so often as they move in their individual orbits[/caption]
Although it’s important to note that only four planets, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, will be visible to the naked eye.
Looking at the sky, Mars will be in the left corner of the eye, with Saturn and Venus in the right, Dr Dan Brown, an astronomy expert here at Nottingham Trent University, told The Sun.
Uranus and Neptune are never visible to the naked eye, as they are too far away from Earth.
The four visible planets, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, will be strung across the evening sky on 18 January where you should be able to see them from 5pm to 9pm local time.
Although, the “best conditions” will be at 6pm, with Mars, Venus, and Saturn roughly 20 degrees above the horizon, according to Dr Brown.
Three planets will be particularly easy to find.
“Mars, Venus and Jupiter will be the brightest objects in the entire sky,” Dr Brown explained.
“Saturn is more like the 10th brightest, but still easy to find given its proximity to Venus.”
But if you’re struggling to find them, try using a sky map app like Night Sky.
A ‘planet parade’ is when four or more planets line up in the sky at once.
It will be visible until 21 February, with the best night to view being 21 January.
What causes the alignment?
Planets are constantly moving, which means their paths occasionally cross into an alignment in Earth's sky, as Dr Brown explains:
“All planets including Earth move in more or less the same plane in our solar system.
“So that from our perspective the planets are always very close to the apparent path of the Sun in the sky also known as the ecliptic.
“This means they will always be along this line.
“You could compare it with cars on a straight road.
“Since they can only drive on the road they will always be found along the road in more or less a line.
“What varies is how close they are to each other and when we can see them.”
Tips to view ‘planet parade’
Head outside early to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.
This way you’ll be able to see Saturn, which won’t be as bright as Mars, Venus and Jupiter.
Dr Brown has encouraged stargazers to find a spot with clear views towards the northeast and southwest.
“Then look for the brightest objects in that large area of the sky,” he said.
There will be no need for cameras or telescopes, as these will only limit the portion of the sky you can see.
“These planets are bright and easy to find as they are the brightest ones around,” he added.
Don’t worry if you miss it – an even more spectacular display is coming.
On 28 February, all seven other planets in the solar system will appear in the night sky at the same time: Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars.
It’s not uncommon for a few planets to align – all it requires is for them to be on the same side of the Sun as the Earth.
But it’s quite rare for six planets to align, and even rarer for seven.
All you need to know about planets in our solar system
Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all...
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Two Renegades bowlers bizarrely removed from BBL attack
Melbourne Renegades captain Will Sutherland and fellow quick Fergus O'Neill have both been removed from the attack for running on the pitch in the BBL.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Melbourne Renegades chasing huge total to do Perth Scorchers a favour and keep their season alive
The Perth Scorchers need Melbourne to beat Brisbane to stay alive in the finals race - but the Renegades are facing a massive chase after two of their star bowlers were banned in controversial circumstances.
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